Filing a successful insurance claim often requires assembling as much evidence as possible in support of any damage claims. Sometimes all of the pertinent information is available immediately and is easy to acquire, but there can also be cases where the insurance provider required to pay policy benefits also attempts to reduce or even avoid paying those benefits entirely. It is still the duty of the plaintiff to prove the damage demands are justified due to causation, and many times this includes compiling as much evidence as possible. The types of information can range from accident reports to statements from witnesses, which are not always easy to obtain. Collecting evidence is actually what many insurance company claims attorneys focus on when crafting a solid case for their clients.
The types of evidence that are required by insurance companies with an accident claim can vary depending on the type of accident and the specifics of the claim. However, there are several key pieces of evidence that are typically required in most cases. Here are some examples:
- Police Report: If the accident involved a collision between two or more vehicles, a police report is usually required. This report contains important details about the accident, such as the date, time, and location, as well as a description of the vehicles involved and any injuries sustained by the parties involved.
- Eyewitness Accounts: If there were any witnesses to the accident, their accounts can be valuable evidence. Eyewitnesses can provide additional details about what happened that may not have been included in the police report.
- Photographs: Photographs of the scene of the accident can also be useful evidence. This includes photos of the damage to the vehicles, any injuries sustained by the parties involved, and the surrounding area where the accident occurred.
- Medical Records: If anyone was injured in the accident, their medical records can be used to document the extent of their injuries and the treatment they received. This information can be used to determine the amount of compensation that should be awarded.
- Repair Estimates: If there was damage to any vehicles involved in the accident, repair estimates can be used to determine the cost of repairs. This information can be used to determine the amount of compensation that should be awarded.
- Insurance Policy Information: Finally, insurance policy information is required to verify that the parties involved in the accident were insured at the time of the accident. This information can also be used to determine the amount of compensation that should be awarded.
It is important to note that the burden of proof in an accident claim rests with the claimant. This means that it is up to the claimant to provide sufficient evidence to prove their case. The more evidence that is provided, the more likely it is that the claim will be successful.
Official Accident Reports
Many insurance claims will also be accompanied by a police report of some type, especially when auto accident claims are being filed. Injuries that are not highway related but still require ambulatory services will also generate documentation that can be used to establish certain details in the injury claim. It is the responsibility of the plaintiff to prove the injury is connected to the defendant and that the injury actually occurred under specific identifying circumstances. An ambulatory record is similar to an official accident report in premises liability injury cases. Official record documentation is always central to any claim when records exists because they serve as third-party verification.
Medical Bill Claims
The next element of an insurance claim involving personal injuries will be assembling the medical bills associated with treatment. Claimants should always seek treatment for each and every potential medical issue because it can impact a claim significantly. Injuries that do not appear serious at first can become very serious later, and it is vital to have all medical issues addressed as soon as possible and included in the medical information supporting any claim. Mental anguish is also a claimable element in certain insurance claims, and medical billing records and detailed information contained in those records could be essential in validating general damage claims.
Lost Wages / Earnings Records
Injured claimants who have lost work due to an injury may also have a claim for compensation of lost wages while recovering. Victims who are not employed cannot file these claims, but those who are employed may need to contact their employer for documentation or present a valid pay receipt to use as a compensation calculation basis. Individuals who are self-employed will also need some type of official wage receipt to use in establishing a daily pay rate later used in calculating total lost earnings.
Witness Statements
Contested accident injury claims are common when liability is being argued by a negligent party or their insurance company. Witness statements may not have any impact on the payment of the claim, but testimony can serve as additional verification or determination of fault if a case is evaluated in court. This is particularly important with auto accident insurance claims, as negligence is often contested in serious accidents. Witnesses can be effective defenses to claims of comparative negligence by a plaintiff when defendants or their insurance providers are denying responsibility for the injury.
Contact Our Law Firm
Our personal injury claims attorneys actually assemble all necessary documentation for injury claims when we begin the representation process. There can often be a significant amount of evidence needed in certain cases that involve extensive general damages. Maximizing claims is the focus of our insurance company claims attorneys, and this is accomplished using comprehensive detailed evidence that can come from practically any source in a complicated case. Call our office today and let us begin the documentation collection that will be necessary in your personal injury case. Your claim may be much more valuable than realized, and extensive evidence is often required in obtaining whole financial damages.
